Andie’s Article
As we move into the 4th of July, I have a lot of complicated feelings. I love the traditions we have as a family: We watch Independence Day, order pizza, and enjoy other people's fireworks. I'm also ten steps down the line thinking about what my responsibility is as a follower of Christ if our nation strips away Medicaid and SNAP benefits for low income people and families. How do we show up as individuals and as a church if support for people in poverty is removed? Well, the reality is that there are roughly 38,000,000 Americans already living under the poverty line. 48,000,000 Americans live with regular food insecurity. Texas has outpaced the national average for years. As we wander through the book of James this month, we are going to be talking about some practicalities of our faith. Progressive Christians have by and large (and rightfully) moved away from the toxicity of voyeuristic mission trips, rather than reshaping missions work into healthy community partnerships. That's one area UBC does well: We show up where we are needed rather than show up how we want to be needed. Here are a few ways we are already supporting the people in our community:
Literacy and Lunch: We are a host site for Waco ISD's summer lunch program. We've combined that time with Literacy Connexus, who offers book checkouts, a storytime, and a themed craft.
Arrow Child and Family Ministry: We are currently gathering school supplies for kids in foster care, and later this year, we will collect Christmas presents for parents to shop from for their kids in foster care.
McLennan County Diaper Collective: We host the McLennan County Diaper Collective, who collects, sorts, and distributes donated diapers to anyone who needs them. The stock is in our upstairs office, and the volunteers meet twice a month to organize and once a month to distribute.
Lambda AA: Lambda is the Queer-friendly branch of AA, and they meet on Monday evenings at 7 in the piano room next to my office. Our commitment is to provide a safe, private place for people in recovery.
I know it's a lot right now. We weren't meant to live with this amount of information, stress, or helplessness. God's people are invited to turn to God, one another, and then outward to serve the forgotten and the marginalized. Consider channeling your stress into serving in a ministry at UBC (tech, kid's ministry, youth ministry!) or into serving with one of our community partners. I want UBC to be the beacon of hope and healing that Waco needs, and that work and vision belongs to us all!
THIS WEEK
Youth Group is back on Wednesday nights!
Pints with/ Toph- Wednesdays, Pinewood Public House, 6pm
GIVING
UBC survives on the generosity of our congregation. Your financial contributions allow us to continue to create a space that is welcoming to all, embraces beauty, and seeks to live life to the fullest.
You can give, as you’re able, on Sunday mornings or set up a single or recurring online gift here.
If you ever have trouble with giving online or have a question about how to give, feel free to email administrator@ubcwaco.org.
CHURCH NEEDS
NEW BABY ON THE LOOSE
This is Ginnie June Dizdar, born 5/20/25. You can sign up to take Nicole, Duke, and the kids food here.
Summer Lunch and Literacy program volunteers We are in need of some volunteers to help during the lunch hour in late June and early August. Volunteers would help with engaging with families who come for the Waco ISD free lunch served at UBC, reading with kids in smaller groups, and leading story times and/or crafts, as well as locking up the building after the hour is over. You can volunteer for one day, or many days! Sign up is here: Summer Lunch Program Volunteers and you can email nicole@ubcwaco.org for more information.
Book Drive
We are accepting gently used or new kids' books to have for our literacy program! We are looking for books ranging from preschool to 6th graders. Bring any donations to the kids' office in May and June! You can also donate funds to specifically use for purchasing books at ubcwaco.org/give, and select "Literacy Program".
Back to School Supplies for Arrow
We are beginning to collect supplies for Arrow Child and Family Ministries back to school backpack drive, and everything is due July 27th. We’ve committed to collect backpacks and supplies for 10 kids. You can sign-up in the foyer at church or email toph@ubcwaco.org When you sign-up, Toph will send you the list of supplies you will need to buy.
UBC NEW BABY TEAM
ALERT. We’ve got a veritable gaggle of babies on the way this year, and are in search of a group of volunteers who will help support the new families and little nUBCers by organizing meal trains, postpartum support, etc! Email nicole@ubcwaco.org if you're interested on serving on this team.
Are you one of our soon-to-be baby having families? Take a moment to fill out this form so we can prepare to support you and your nUBCer!
Kid’s Volunteers
SIgn up to help with ubckids! Do it for the future! You can sign up here.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Waco Dives - Wednesday, July 2nd
Waco Dives is back and we are back with another: Schmaltz’s downtown! We will be meeting at Schmaktz’s downtown Waco at noon Wednesday, and would for you to join us. This a great time to hang out with other UBC’ers in the middle of the week, and join a local hole-in-the-wall spot for lunch. No need to rsvp, just bring yourself (and a friend if you want). If you have any questions, contact toph@ubcwaco.org
Find more details and our full calendar of events on our website. This calendar is updated frequently, so check back often!
PREACHING SCHEDULE
Andie (for the next several weeks)
CONTACT INFO
Pastoral Staff
Andie Pellicer, Lead Pastor
(andie@ubcwaco.org)
Toph Whisnant, Community Pastor (toph@ubcwaco.org)
Jameson McGregor, Worship & Arts Pastor (jamie@ubcwaco.org)
Nicole Dizdar, Kids Pastor
(nicole@ubcwaco.org)
Leadership Team (leadershipteam@ubcwaco.org)
Britt Duke
Andy Clark
Aleigh Ascherl
Marcus Franklin
Katie Robinson
Margo Shanks
Staff Support Team (staffsupport@ubcwaco.org)
Kyle Howerton
Jim Wren
Betsy Bracken
Finance Team (finance@ubcwaco.org)
Brandon Glover
Jonathan Hill
Ben Rose